Overview

Shakerism teaches God's immanence through the common life shared in Christ's mystical body. Like many religious seekers throughout the ages, they honor the revelation of God but cannot be bound up in an unchanging set of dogmas or creeds. Freeing themselves from domination by the state religion, Mother Ann Lee and her first followers in mid-18th-century England labored to encounter the godhead directly. They were blessed by spiritual gifts that showed them a way to live the heavenly life on Earth. The result of their efforts was the fashioning of a celibate communal life called the Christlife, wherein a person, after confessing all sin, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, can travel the path of regeneration into ever- increasing holiness. Pacifism, equality of the sexes, and withdrawal from the world are some of the ways the faith was put into practice. This second edition of Historical Dictionary of the Shakers contains a chronology, an introduction, appendixes, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 300 cross-referenced entries on Shaker communities, industries, individual families, and important people. This book is an excellent resource for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about the Shakers.

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9781538102305

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Reviews

There are few people who have not heard of the Shakers, despite their small numbers, and yet most people don't really understand their attempt to live the `Christlife' through community and celibacy. This detailed work in the `Historical Dictionaries of Religions, Philosophies, and Movements' series is written by retired Massachusetts teacher Paterwic, who provides an excellent and thorough orientation for those who wish to know more. He begins with a helpful chronology and introduction, and because the author has longstanding ties with the last remaining Shakers at Sabbathday Lake, he is able to offer thoughtful and compassionate insight into their way of life that goes beyond historical knowledge. The author's extensive knowledge of and love for his subjects make this treatment more personal than many of the publisher's other historical dictionaries. Additional strengths of the work are the fascinating biographies of many members, charming photographs, and appendixes on the rules of life and format of worship. Paterwic also includes an extensive and impressive bibliographic essay. He explains in the preface that he has revised 160 entries from the first edition (2008) and written 70 new entries; a preceding edition published by Scarecrow was written by Holley Gene Duffield. Libraries serving students or faculty in American history or the study of religion will find this volume a worthwhile acquisition. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels of students through researchers/faculty; general readers. * CHOICE * This volume is a second edition installment in Rowman & Littlefield's Historical Dictionary of Religions, Philosophies, and Movements series. Historical Dictionary of the Shakers provides a comprehensive overview of the Shaker movement from its origins with founder Mother Ann Lee in 18th-century England through its spread into colonial America and into the modern era. In addition to the dictionary itself which includes a thorough chronology, the volume offers several appendixes which present different aspects of the Shaker experience.... It should also be noted that the current Shaker organization in America has an endorsement in the volume, acknowledging the importance and accuracy of the contents of the dictionary. The dictionary itself contains many historically relevant photographs which enhance the dictionary, providing depth and dimension to the entries which bring the Shakers' history to life. The dictionary is heavy on entries regarding individuals and locations, though it does justice to concepts and artifacts as well, providing meaningful insight to Shakerism. Between the volume's well-written thoroughness and photographic illustrations and its $100 price tag, this title is highly recommended. Its historical and geographical overview of the Shaker movement and the organization's endorsement of their representation in the title give significant weight to its credibility as a resource. Highly recommended for public libraries and academic libraries at schools with religion and American history programs. * American Reference Books Annual *

This volume is a second edition installment in Rowman & Littlefield's Historical Dictionary of Religions, Philosophies, and Movements series. Historical Dictionary of the Shakers provides a comprehensive overview of the Shaker movement from its origins with founder Mother Ann Lee in 18th-century England through its spread into colonial America and into the modern era. In addition to the dictionary itself which includes a thorough chronology, the volume offers several appendixes which present different aspects of the Shaker experience.... It should also be noted that the current Shaker organization in America has an endorsement in the volume, acknowledging the importance and accuracy of the contents of the dictionary. The dictionary itself contains many historically relevant photographs which enhance the dictionary, providing depth and dimension to the entries which bring the Shakers' history to life. The dictionary is heavy on entries regarding individuals and locations, though it does justice to concepts and artifacts as well, providing meaningful insight to Shakerism. Between the volume's well-written thoroughness and photographic illustrations and its $100 price tag, this title is highly recommended. Its historical and geographical overview of the Shaker movement and the organization's endorsement of their representation in the title give significant weight to its credibility as a resource. Highly recommended for public libraries and academic libraries at schools with religion and American history programs. * American Reference Books Annual *

Author Information

Stephen J. Paterwic recently retired from the West Springfield Public Schools. He is a frequent presenter at Shaker seminars and forums and he is the author of numerous articles on the Shakers. He currently serves as an overseer of Hancock Shaker Village in Massachusetts and is a trustee of Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village in Maine. The Shakers of Sabbathday Lake have been his lifelong friends and provide inspiration for his spiritual life.

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